Construction on the Pattullo Bridge is set to begin and will commence with a weekend-long closure to haul in equipment and allow crews to set up, TransLink has announced.

The closure will begin Friday evening at 8 p.m. and will last until Monday, May 2 at 5 a.m., while construction overall will continue until October 3. Expect major delays as intermittent closures to vehicles will continue for two nights per week and one weekend a month for the duration of the project. Only one lane will be open in each direction from May 2 until September 30.

While vehicle closures occur, pedestrian and cyclists will still be able to use the bridge.

TransLink is recommending allotting an extra 20 to 40 minutes of travel time during peak morning hours, and 10 to 30 minutes for afternoon rush hour traffic. Even a minor accident could cause significant delays or a full bridge closure.

To compensate for the delays, TransLink has added additional bus service hours to the 101, 104, 128, 155, 340, 388, and the 410 routes. Additionally, using other crossings, travelling outside of peak hours whenever possible, carpooling, and cycling are all alternative ways to improve commuting.

The construction will focus on the bridge deck in order to improve structural and road safety, TransLink says. The Pattullo Bridge is one of the oldest bridges in the Metro area and links Surrey with New Westminster.

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